Written Answers Nos. 114 -124
114. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure a common protocol is put in place for the advertising of all teaching posts, including e-mail; if he will ensure that all qualified applicants are acknowledged and if unsuccessful, that the reasons for not being successful are communicated to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16403/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). My Department has issued a number of communications addressing this issue in recent years.
The Governance Manual for National school's 2015 – 2019 Appendix D sets out the Recruitment and Appointment Procedures for Teachers in Recognised Primary Schools including advertising rules as well as notification of successful and unsuccessful candidates.
Circular 20/2012, applicable to the post-primary sector enabled web based advertising of teaching posts and removed the requirement to place advertisements in the national print media from 1 January 2013. The circular specified the use of www.publicjobs.ie for Principal and Deputy Principal posts and www.educationposts.ie for all other teaching posts. Any changes to the list of websites are a matter for the management bodies.
All of the above communications can be accessed on the Department's website under www.education.ie.
Where applicants have concerns about the advertising process, about failures in communications to unsuccessful applicants or about possible failures to comply with these Departmental communications, it is open to them to make a complaint to the Board of Management of the school involved.
115. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question Number 175 of 2 June 2016, his views that that information contradicts the information which is on the Teaching Council website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16409/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe position is that the information on the Teaching Council's website refers not just to Montessori teachers but to all teachers currently registered under regulation 3. The information in my reply to Parliamentary Question Number 175 of 2 June 2016 related to Montessori teachers only, and is therefore not contradictory.
I can clarify for the Deputy that the revised regulations will provide for the continued registration of all teachers currently registered with the Teaching Council under Regulation 3.
116. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the long promised review of the Caranua scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16472/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraEligibility for assistance from Caranua is confined to those who received awards from the Redress Board or equivalent Court awards or settlements. A commitment was given during the passage of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 to review the operation of the Fund two years after its establishment in the event of applications not resulting in a significant expenditure of the Fund. The terms of reference for the review will be drafted in the near future.
117. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will issue grant approval for a project in a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16473/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers have recently been informed that it has been allocated funding under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme to provide a mainstream classroom, a Resource Room and 1 x WC for assisted users.
118. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will seek clarification from the Teaching Council on course requirements and qualifications for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16476/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2006, the Teaching Council is the body with statutory responsibility and authority for regulation of the teaching profession, including the recognition of teaching qualifications and the registration of teachers under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015.
Teachers are registered in accordance with the Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2009, which set out the standards teachers must meet if they are to be registered. These regulations are currently being revised, and the revised regulations were recently provided to my Department for my consent and approval.
The Council is independent in the discharge of its regulatory functions. Accordingly, the person concerned should continue to liaise directly with the Council.
119. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the loss of a teacher at a school (details supplied) with the objective of maintaining the current number of teachers and with reference to reconfiguring class sizes upwards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16483/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts for the 2016/2017 school year is set out in Circular 0007/2016. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the 30 September 2015.
The school referred to by the Deputy will have a mainstream teaching post suppressed for the 2016/17 school year due to falling enrolments. The staffing process includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board. My Department has not received a staffing appeal from the school referred to by the Deputy.
The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. My Department's guidance to schools is that the number of pupils in any class is kept as low as possible taking all relevant contextual factors into account (e.g. classroom accommodation, fluctuating enrolment etc.). School authorities are also requested, where possible, to use their autonomy under the staffing schedule to implement smaller class sizes for junior classes.
120. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will publish or otherwise set out his understanding of the legal advice available to his Department in respect of repealing section 7(3)(c) of the Equal Status Act 2000, further to a contribution by a former Minister for State (details supplied) in the debate on the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 in Dáil Éireann on 2 December 2015. [16486/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra121. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills his policy in relation to the repeal of section 7(3)(c) of the Equal Status Act 2000 or the addition of an amendment to this subsection so that it does not apply to schools in receipt of State funding or public money. [16487/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 121 together.
Schools are not permitted to discriminate against an applicant for admission on any of the grounds set out in the Equal Status Act, 2000. However, Section 7 (3)(c) of the Equal Status Act 2000 provides that an educational establishment does not discriminate where the establishment is a school providing primary or post-primary education to students and the objective of the school is to provide education in an environment which promotes certain religious values, it admits persons of a particular religious denomination in preference to others or it refuses to admit as a student a person who is not of that denomination and, in the case of a refusal, it is proved that the refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school. Schools that comply with the requirements of the equality legislation do not therefore discriminate on religious grounds.
It is my view that the desire of parents for diversity in education choice can be provided effectively by focussing on the delivery of the ambition to treble the number of multi-denominational and non-denominational schools as set out in the Programme for Government. This commitment is to deliver a total of 400 non-denominational and multi-denominational schools by 2030.
The Programme for Government also contains a commitment to publish new School Admissions legislation taking account of current draft proposals and addressing issues including publication of school enrolment policies, an end to waiting lists, introduction of annual enrolment structures, and transparency and fairness in admissions for pupils and their parents.
In terms of any advices sought on repealing the provision of the Equal Status Act referred to by the Deputy, the Deputy will be aware that the previously published draft legislative framework for school admissions did not propose any such change to the Equal Status Act.
The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill which was published in April 2015 did not progress through the Houses of the Oireachtas and was not reinstated for the current Dáil session. However, I have commenced a process of consultation with opposition parties to discuss my proposals to introduce a new Admissions Bill to make the process of enrolling children in school easier for parents.
Following these consultations, it is my intention to publish a new Admissions Bill during the current Dáil session.
It is important to note that 80% of schools are not oversubscribed. The new Bill will oblige all schools to admit pupils where there are available places.
122. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of school bus services to primary school children; if he has recently introduced changes that result in children who started school before the 2011-2012 school year who are not attending their closest school are now being offered concessionary bus tickets only whereas last year they got full tickets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16488/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraChanges to my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme were announced in December 2010 by the then Government as part of measures contained in Budget 2011 and derived from recommendations contained in the Value for Money review of the scheme.
The changes announced covered the uniform application of the distance eligibility criterion, the cessation of the Closed/Central School Rule, an increase from seven to ten in the minimum number of eligible children required to establish or retain a service and the introduction of charges for eligible primary children.
Children who had an eligibility for school transport to their school of attendance, prior to the introduction of these changes, retain this eligibility for the duration of their education at that school provided there is no change in their circumstances.
Siblings of these children, who are not attending their nearest school and therefore not eligible for school transport, may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only in accordance with the terms of the School Transport Scheme.
The changes to school transport provision are applied uniformly and equitably on a national basis.
If the Deputy has a particular case in mind I will be happy to ask Bus Éireann to provide a full report.
123. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills how soon pay equalisation will occur for persons entering the teaching profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16523/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has committed to establishing a Public Service Pay Commission to examine pay levels across the Public Service, including entry pay levels. The terms of reference and timescale for the Commission's work are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Government recognises the importance of being able to attract quality new entrants to the Public Service, particularly so in important professional areas like education.
The restrictions in entry pay levels were introduced in 2011 and 2012 across the public service at a time when the pressure in public finances was severe and the scope for new recruitment was very restricted.
Under the Lansdowne Road Agreement the process of restoring public pay is commencing. An important feature of this is the flat rate increase which is being implemented. This is proportionately more valuable to those early in their careers. Restoration of the supervision and substitution payment is provided for subject to co-operation with the Lansdowne Road Agreement. The Lansdowne Road Agreement did not address the issue of pay of new entrants. My Department continues to seek to engage with teacher unions on issues of mutual concern and has recently reached agreement with INTO and TUI in respect of:*discussions to improve the position of teachers on fixed-term and part-time teaching
*a robust review of in-school management structures
*an increase in the quantum of the extra Croke Park hours which do not have to be worked on a "whole school" basis The Government has also indicated that it will support the gradual negotiated repeal of FEMPI measures having due regard to the priority to improve public services and in recognition of the essential role played by public servants.
124. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for and when he will reduce class sizes in primary schools to 20; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16524/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government has a commitment to reduce class sizes at primary level.
The staffing schedule at primary level currently operates on the basis of 1 classroom teacher for every 28 pupils.
Budget 2016 provides for a one point improvement to the staffing allocation to primary schools, which will be implemented for the 2016/17 school year. This will see the primary staffing schedule operate on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 27 pupils. Lower thresholds apply for DEIS Band 1 schools, ranging from 20:1 to 24:1 depending on the type of school. Staffing arrangements for the 2016/17 school year are available in Circular 0007/2016, which is published on the Department website.
In the next Budget I will consider the best approach to further meeting commitments in the Programme for Government.
